Australia to Sell Sport Secrets

By John Buchanan
Geelong Advertiser
Wednesday 8 June, 2005

HAVING hosted one of the most successful Olympics and produced a host of world champions, Australia is regarded as a world leader in sport.

Now it is ready to reveal the secrets of its success to the rest of the world for a price. Sport Knowledge Australia (SKA) a sports science and management initiative jointly owned by the University of Technology, Sydney, the University of Sydney and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, was launched yesterday to sell Australia's sporting nous internationally in the form of sports education products.

SKA, the brainchild of chief executive Leighton Wood, is funded by $8.7 million from the Federal Government, with the expectation the venture will be self-sufficient by 2007. "Other countries have a curiosity as to why Australia has found the strongest Olympic team in the world", Wood said yesterday. "They wonder why have they got the strongest swimming team, why are there 10 Australians in the top 50 golfers in the world?"

"There is a curiosity as to what makes Australian sport successful, and it's a matter of leveraging that curiosity. SKA has signed up some of Australia's top sports mentors, including national cricket coach John Buchanan, former Hockeyroos coach Ric Charlcsworth and swimming's Don Talbot, to contribute to coaching courses. It will also utilise the expertise of top sports academics and authorities in the fields of sports marketing, event management medicine and stadium construction. Wood said SKA was expecting to announce significant contracts in China in the coming months.

Photo:Matthew Vasilescu